Combined cotton chopper and planter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. H. PARKER. COMBINED COTTON OHOPPER AND. PLANTEB.. No. 484,337. Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

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No. 484,337` Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

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UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. PARKER, OF GRAPELAND, TEXAS.

COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER AND PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 484,337, dated October 11, 1892.

Application filed October 21. 1891. Serial No. 409.381. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grapeland, in the county of Houston and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Oombined Cotton Chopper and Planter, of which the following vis a specification.

This invention relates to machines for chopping, cultivating, and planting cotton; and the objects in view are to provide a machine of such construction as will be adapted to perform the above operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of cheap and simple construction and readily convertible for the practice of its various functions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constructed in accordance Fig. 2 is a vertical longitndinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sec. tion, the hopper removed and taken through the space the hopper would, if present, occupy. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. l

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.,

1 designates the opposite longitudinal side bars of the frame, and journaled in the rear ends of the same is a transverse axle 2, upon the ends of which, outside of the side bars, ground-Wheels 3 are rigidly mounted, whereby the axle and wheels rotate in unison.

4 designates a beam, provided with an opening 5 in its front end, which loosely receives a reduced cylindrical bearing G, formed on the axle. To opposite sides of the beam, near its rear end, are secured apair of plow-standards 7, the lower ends of which support shovels 8 and are provided with L-shaped fenders 9, through which, the shovels, and the standards heel-bolts 10 are passed. Through the standards and beam an adjustingrod 11 passes, and upon the same said standards may be adjusted through the medium of nuts 12, so that their distances apart may be varied. A similar rod 13 passes through the upper ends of the standards above the beam, and through the medium of nuts 14 said rod `between the transverse bars 16.

may be adjusted to give the standards a proper space. i Upon this rod handles 15 are mounted, the' lower ends of the handles being loosely connected with the opposite sides of the beam.

In a pair of cross-bars 16, secured to the under side of theY opposite side bars 1, bearings 17 are formed, and mounted for rotation in the bearings and removable therefrom is a chopping-shaft 18.- This shaft extends at its rear end beyond the rear bar and engages loosely with a socket 19, formed in the front end of the beam 4, andrcarries in front of said end a beveled gear 20. The teeth of the gear are engaged and operated by teeth formed upon one side of a pulley 2l, which is rigidly mounted upon and moves with the axle, so that the rotation of the axle is imparted by the two gears to the chopping-shaft. The chopping-shaft is rectangular in cross-section and has mounted thereon one or a pair of choppers 22a. These choppers have their handles or shanks provided with square slots 23, which receive the shaft 18, and are secured in position upon the shaft by bolts 25, which pass through perforations in the Shanks and serve to adjust the choppers upon the shaft.

26 designates a hopper that is removably mounted in position upon the framework and The hopper has journaledin its opposite side walls an agitator-shaft 27, the ends of the shaft being removably j ournaled in boxes 28, located upon the upper sides of the bars 1. Within the hopper the shaft is provided with agitatingfingers, while outside of the same, and between it and one ofthe bars 1, the shaft carries a pulley 29, which is connected by the endless belt 30 with the pulley 2l.

In thefront ends of the side bars 1 a transverse bar 31 is mounted, the same having its ends tenoned to fit mortises formed in the bars 1. The draft-pole 32 is passed through the bar 31 and intothe bar 1G, and is thus held rigid. 95

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To the under side of the transverse bar 16, at opposite sides of the center thereof, guiding-arms 38 are secured and the same at their free ends project in front of the machine.

In operation the machine may be used either as aplanter or as a cotton chopper and scraper. When used as a planter, the fenders to the rear shovels, which then serve as coveringshovels, are removed, as are also the choppers or hoes, and as the machine progresses the front shovel opens the furrow, while the seed is dropped in the usual manner from the hopper and covered by the covering-shovels following thereafter. When, however, the machine is used as a combined chopper and scraper, the hopper is removed, as is also the front f urrow-opening standard, and as the machine progresses the hoes, which have been previously adjusted, are successively and intermittingly brought in contact with the row of cotton, so that the stands are formed, and the fenders being at the sides of the covering-shovels prevent the shovels from throwingI dirt upon the young plants and simply scrapealong the edges of the furrow which they straddle. By extending the rear end of the shaft 18 into the socket at the front end of the beam 4 the said shaft is greatly strengthened, and, furthermore, where it is not desired to dirt up the rows, the cultivators being removed, the beam 4, when depressed at its rear end by a manipulation of the handles, will serve p to raise the hoes over large stones, stumps, and other obstructions.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided in a single machine one calculated to perform the functions of a planter and a combined cotton-chopper and scraper, and that by such combination neither is lessened in its operativeness. The machine is simple in its construction and may be readily converted to its different forms without the employment of any special hand-tools or skilled labor.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination,with the opposite side bars, of the wheel-carrying axle journaled therein, having a bearing portion near its center, a masterpulley mounted on the axle and adapted to turn therewith, the rearwardlyextending beam having an opening for the reception of the axle and at its front end a socket, the opposite plow-standards secured to the sides of the beam, the rotatable chopping-shaft journaled in the framework and having its rear end terminating in the socket of the beam, the chopping-hoes mounted upon the shaft, and the gear mounted on the shaft and engaging the teeth of the main pulley, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with the framework and a 1oosely-pivoted beam at the rear end of the same, terminating inhandles and provided at its front end withfa socket, of the rotatable hoecarrying chopper-shaft rotatably and loosely connected at its front end to the framework, and having its rear end terminating in the socket of the beam, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with the framework, the looselyfulcrumed beam, and the handles at the rear end of the same, of the rotatable choppingshaft, choppers mounted thereon, said shaft being pivotally journaled at its front end, and loose connections between the rear end of the same and the front end of the beam, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS H. PARKER.

Witnesses: i

J. L. BROWNING, J. E. BEAN. 

